Ben Affleck
Dipping his toes into all sectors of the film industry, Ben Affleck already has an Oscar on his mantle piece, acknowledging his exceptional screen-writing debut for Good Will Hunting; a joint effort with best friend Matt Damon. Gone Baby Gone, and The Town demonstrated Affleck’s ability to fuse his writing and directing talents to produce films that please both audiences and critics. His talents will most likely be recognised at the Oscars next year; as the first predictions of academy ward winners nod to Affleck as a front-runner for best director for Argo.
Mel Gibson
With his acting career kicking off in the successful action series Lethal weapon, it was perhaps unforeseen that 10 years later Mel Gibson would go on to win two Oscars, for best picture and best director of Braveheart; featuring his most famous role to date as Scottish icon William Wallace. Directing films such The Man Without a Face, and Apocalypto shows his ability to adapt his talents to a variety of genres.
Woody Allen
Perhaps the most infamous director of our time Woody Allen is known for his artistic, whimsical productions due to his greatly practised directing and screenwriting abilities. In his older films if not starring himself there were frequently characters that possessed his characteristics; a fixated writer often from New York. Producing at least one film per year there is no wonder he has 4 Oscars under his belt with recent titles such as Vicky Christina Barcelona and Midnight in Paris commended as some of his best work to date.
George Clooney
Directing only four films so far George Clooney has focused on dazzling audiences with his charm and good looks playing likeable characters on the big screen. However his directing talents are notable with his debut in 2006 of Good Night, and Good Luck being nominated for two Oscars. His film The ides of March starring himself and Ryan Gosling was nominated for best screen play in both the BAFTA’s and Oscars. With films tending to reflect his liberal political beliefs Clooney has an impressive style of directing which hopefully we will see more of in the future.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood began his career starring in macho 60’s westerns such as The Good, the Bad, and the ugly. Directing films in the western genre through the 70’s and 80’s, he then moved on to produce and star in academy award winning films such as Mystic River, and Million Dollar Baby. Winning four Oscars for his directing abilities, nominated for two for an actor in a leading role, and being the oldest leading man to reach number one in the box office for Gran Torino. Clint Eastwood is arguably the ultimate actor turned director.
